Mississippi debt: three years on almost everything, so be careful what you sign
Mississippi has one of the simplest and shortest time limits in the country: three years for nearly every consumer debt, written or not. The risk is in paperwork. A signed acknowledgment, a payment or a signed waiver can give the creditor more time.
The check is free. If a dispute letter will help, it costs $29 ($19 for military, veterans, seniors and people with disabilities) with three follow-ups.
Who is asking you to pay?
Look at the company name at the top of the letter or in the caller ID.
Mississippi at a glance
- Most consumer debt
- 3 years (15-1-29, 15-1-49)
- Signed acknowledgment
- Can change the rules
- Payment
- Can restart the clock
- Signed waiver
- Gives the creditor more time
- After garnishment is served
- First 30 days of wages exempt
- State collection law
- None; federal law applies
General information about Mississippi law, with sources below. Not legal advice.
Three years in Mississippi
Three years for open accounts, accounts stated not acknowledged in writing, and unwritten contracts (Miss. Code 15-1-29), and three years for other actions with no specific period, including most written contracts (15-1-49).
What you sign matters
Section 15-1-29's three years applies to accounts "not acknowledged in writing, signed by the debtor", so signing an acknowledgment of an account can change the rules. A payment on an old debt can restart the three years. Signing a waiver of the time limit while arranging repayment gives the creditor more time to sue.
If a creditor offers a repayment plan on an old account, read every page before signing.
For Mississippi residents with old accounts, the 3-year limit is the key date; our zombie debt guide explains why.
Limits vary a lot between states: by comparison, New Mexico sets 4 years and Texas sets 4 years for similar debts.
Before paying anything in Mississippi, read whether to pay a collection agency and how to request debt validation.
Mississippi residents often hear from national agencies like Radius Global Solutions and Tate & Kirlin Associates; see our guides to each.
Sued in Mississippi? Do not miss the deadline: read how to get a debt lawsuit dismissed before you respond.
Garnishment and judgments in Mississippi
Wages earned in the first 30 days after a garnishment is served are exempt; after that, 75% of wages stay exempt. A judgment can be renewed only while it is still in force.
Mississippi has no standalone state debt collection statute; the federal law is the main protection: a written dispute inside the validation period makes the collector stop until it mails verification.
Questions people ask about debt in Mississippi
What is the statute of limitations on credit card debt in Mississippi?
Three years, under Miss. Code 15-1-29 for open accounts and 15-1-49 for other claims.
Can a payment restart a Mississippi debt?
Yes. A payment can restart the three years, and a signed acknowledgment or waiver can also give the creditor more time.
When can my wages be garnished in Mississippi?
Wages earned in the first 30 days after the garnishment is served are exempt; after that, 75% stay protected.
Does Mississippi have its own debt collection law?
No standalone statute. The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is the main protection.
Can an expired judgment be renewed in Mississippi?
No. A judgment can be renewed only while it is still in force.